Presented to the
LIBRARY of the
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
by
The Birks Family Foundation
WW/
M
A K v
Authentic Account
O F T H E
REDUCTION
O F
L0UISB017RG,
In June and July 1758,
Ob Patriam pugnando. — Vjrq.
By a SPECTATOR.
LONDON:
Printed for W. Owen, near Temple-Bar. 1758.
[ Price One Shilling. ]
THE
READER
MAY depend on the Impartia-
lity of thefe Minutes^ as the
Writer, though prefent the whole
Time, neither was himfelf an AEior in
any Thing he relates, nor under any
Influence from Dependance or Con-
nexion with thofe that were. And,
the Authenticity of the Whole may be
as far relied on, as it is poffible to cre-
dit the concurrent Accounts of feveral
Gentlemen^ who were prefent at its
different Parts, and related them regu-
larly as they were tranfadted.
Thefe
( 4 )
Thefe Accounts were at firft col- i
le&ed, only for the Satisfa&ion of;
fome Friends ; and are now commu-
nicated for the Information of the
Public^ becaufe they have none that
are better. It is hoped, they will
contribute to give the Reader a juft
Opinion of all thofe brave Men, who
dire&ed and ajjijled in the Reduction of
Louifbourg. —
Quique fui Memores alios fecere merendo.
( 5 )
MINUTES
Concerning the Reduction of
LOUISBOURG*
T \i E Commanding Officers in the Expedition
againft this important Fortrefs, were thefe
that follow 5
Of the Fleet.
The Hon bIe Edward Bofcawen, Admiral of his Ma-
jefty's Blue Squadron, and Commander in Chief
of all his Majefty's Ships and VelTels employed,
and to be employed, in North America.
Sir Charles Hardy , Knt. Rear Admiral of the White*
Philip Dm 'ell \ Efq-, Commodore.
Of the Army.
Major- General Jeffery AmhersJ, Commander in
Chief of his Majefty's Forces to be employed
in the Ifland of Cape Breton, &c.
Brigadier-General Edward Whitmore.
Brigadier- General Charles Laurence.
Brigadier- General James Wolfe.
Colonel Baftide, Chief Engineer.
B The
6
The Redudtioft
Namur
The Fleet confifted of the following Ships.
Guns.
r Hon hh Edw. Bofcawen^ efq
90 \ Captain Buckle.
Royal William
Princefs Amelia
Dublin
Terrible
Northumberland
Vanguard
Orford
Burford
Somerfet
Lancafter
Devonfhire
Bedford
Captain
Prince Frederick
Pembroke
Kingfton
York
Prince of Orange
Defiance
Nottingham
Centurion
Sutherland
~ CSir Charles Hardy ^ Knt.
^\ Captain Evans.
g S Philip Dur ell, Efq*,
0 I Captain Bray.
74 Capt. Rodney
74
70
70
70
70
70
70
66
%
64
60
60
60
60
60
6a
54
5<>
Collins.
Rt-Hon^Ld&Zw/.
Swanton.
Spry.
Gambier.
Hughes.
Hon blc Gft?. Edgecumbe
Gordon.
Fozvke.
Amherft*
Man.
Simcoe.
Parry.
Pigot.
Fergufon.
Baird.
Marfhall.
Mantell.
Rous.
Frigates.
Juno, Diana, Boreas, Trent, Gramont, Shannon.
Hind, Portmahon, Nightingale, Kennington,
Squirrel, Beaver, Hunter, Scarborough, Hawke,
./Etna, Lightening, Tyloe.
The
Of LOUISBOURG".
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The Reduction
On the 28th of May, 1758, Admiral Bofcawen
failed from Halifax Harbour with the Squadron he
brought from England, and the Tranfports with
the Forces under his Convoy <, and on,
June 2. Anchored them in Gabreufe Bay, in the
Ifland of Cape Breton, above three Leagues by Sea
from the Harbour of Louijbourg to the South Weft
of it.
In the Evening the General, with the Brigadier-
Generals Laurence and Wolfe, reconnoitred the Shore
as near as poflible, and made a Difpofition for land-
ing in three Places. They obferved that the Enemy
had a Chain of Pofls along the Shore from Cape
Noir to Flat- Point, and Irregulars from thence to
the Bottom of the Bay with Works and Batteries
at all the Places where it was probable or practicable
for any Troops to land.
3. They difcovered feveral Encampments of the
Enemy along the Shore of a little Bay, at the
N. E. End of Gabreufe? which was the moft con^
venient Place for the intended Defcent : This Bay
has fince been called Kennington Cove, from that
Frigate's being ftationed there as clofely as fhe could
venture to the Shore to play her Cannon upon the
Enemy and their Batteries on the Day of landing
the Troops.
Brigadier General Whitmore arrived this Day
from Halifax. As lefs Surf was obferved in one
Cove than the others, a Difpofition was this Day
made to land at that one Place, inftead of the three
propofed yefterday.
4. We had a thick Fog, and fo hard a Gale,
that the Irent Frigate ftruck on a Rock, made
repeated Signals of Diftrefs, and unfhiped her Rud-
der ; but, with much Difficulty, was got off. The
Tranfports were in great danger of driving on
Shore,
of Louisbourg. 9
Shore, having fuffered a good deal in their Cables
and Anchors, in the rocky part of the Bay, in
which they rode at that time for the Conveniency
of their Situation to the Shore, where the landing
was propofed.
June 5. Was a Day of thick Fog, with fo great
a Surf driving on the Shore, that nothing could be
attempted.
6. After fome Rain and Fog in the Morning, it
was judged proper on an Appearance of Change of
Weather to make an Attempt of landing the Troops.
Accordingly after the Signal made, the Boats they
were debarked into, rowed towards the Shore: But,
on the Report of fome Captains of the Fleet, who
were ordered to reconnoitre the Beach, that the Surf
was then too high, the Troops reimbarked in their
refpective Tranfports,
7. When the Fog cleared up, we found that the
Surf was too high for the Troops to make any At-
tempt of landing this day.
But, in hopes of better Weather the next Morn-
ing, a Regiment was fent, by the Mouth of the
Harbour, in a Number of Sloops, with a Propor-
tion of Artillery, to make a Shew of landing at
Lorembec - 9 but not actually to land there till farther
Orders, the General intending only to draw the
Enemy's Attention that way, to facilitate his in-
tended Landing at the N. E. end of Gabreufe Bay.
Almoft every Day fince they had been at An-
chor, fome of the Frigates fired at Parties of the
Enemy they faw near the Shore, it was thought,
with fome Effect.
8. About 2 o ? Clock in the Morning the Troops
were debarked into the Men of War and the Tran-
fports Boats, rowed by their proper Crews ; the
former under the Direction of a Lieutenant, Mate,
or
io The RedaBion
Jme 8. or Midjhipman, and the latter under that of the
Officer of the Troops in each Boat. The following
is the Order of landings in three Divifions, given by
the General, for preferring the greater Regularity:
Otwc
Hopi
Laur
Wart
[Whit
iv's
b'
ro
n
mp
mo
</>"*
tb
o
ro
Left Brigades Right t r £
1,
CO
er
CO
_o
ckto
ruth
elles
Forb
CO
Mon
Anil
Lafc
Light Infantry
and
Frazier's
To draw up to
the left of A in-
herit' s.
To draw up to
the right of the
Royals
Brag's
Regiment,
With* Directions to obferve, if poftible, the following Method
of marching the Troops after their Landing ;
&
Webb's
Monckt
Frazie
Grenadiers.
ence's
ruther's j
elles's j
ion's |
CO
CO
' CO
D
ton
o
C/J*
5—
u
a..
o
rag
brtl
CO
<
—1
X
SB
Light
Infan-
try &
Frazr's
Regiments of the Left tRegiments of the Right
Brigade, Brigade,
Amhft'sJ-Hopfon'sjLaur. jOtw's'Lafc.lMoncktl AnftrjRoyals
Brag's
Regi-
ment.
Regiments of the fecond
Line
Whitmore'sl Warburton't
Regiments of the fecond
Line,
Webb's | Forbes's
Previous to the landing, Capt. Rous in the
Sutherland and feveral other Frigates, had, by the
Admiral's Direction, ftationed themfelves as near
the Shore as was convenient, to terrify and annoy
the Enemy's fortified Encampments, the better
to prepare for the Attempt of the Boats.
Their Difpofition was — the Sutherland and Squir-
rel on the Right near White Point; the Kennigton
and Halifax Snow on the Left near Kennington Cove%
and the Grammont, Diana and Shannon Frigates in
the
of LOUISBOURG, II
the Centre. Accordingly, after Commodore Bur ell June
had reported it as his Opinion, that the Troops
might land on the Left, without any great Inter-
ruption from this Morning's Surf, about Sun- rife
this Day a mod furious cannonading was begun by
the Kennington and Halifax Snow, which was con-
tinued by ail the reft with only fome neceflary Inter-
miflions in Favour of the Attempt, until about
8 o'Clock. About 4 this Morning under Cover of
the Ship's Guns, the Boats with a Bivifton of the
Troops, after a general Rendezvous near White
Point, made an Attempt of landing to the Left
at Kennington Cove, with 600 Light Infantry, the
whole Battalion of Highlanders, and 4 Companies of
Grenadiers, under the Command of Brigadier Gene-
ral Wolfe \ while a Feint of landing was made to the
Right towards White Point, conducted by Brigadier
General Whitmore 3 and the Brigades in the Centre
were commanded by Brigadier General Laurence,
who made a Shew of landing at the Frefh-Water
Cove, the more to diffract the Enemy's Attention,
and to divide their Force.
The left Wing, finding the Shore at Kennington
Cove impregnable, withdrew with fome Lofs from
the warm Fire of two Batteries difcharging Grape
and round Shot upon them in flank ; while feveral
Swivels, and fmall Arms almoft without Number
fhowered on them from the Lines, that were about
15 feet above the Level of the Boats. As the
Enemy had for fome Tears being preparing againft
fuch a probable Attempt; they had now been
fome Bays in Expectation of our Vifit : They had
accordingly pofted themfelves along the Shore to
the Number of more than 3000 Regulars, Irregu-
lars, and a few of the native Indians, in all the pro-
bable Places of landing, behind a very ftrong
Breaft-
12
The Reduction
8. Breaft-work, fortified at proper Diftances with feve-
ral Pieces of Cannon, befides Swivels of an extra-
ordinary Calibre, mounted on very ftrong perpen-
dicular Stocks of Wood, driven deep into the
Ground : They had alfo prepared for flanking, by
erecting Redans mounted with Cannon in the molt
advantageous Situations — Nothing of the Kind has
perhaps been feen more complete than rhefe Forti-
fications. Befides, all the Approaches to the Front-
Lines were rendered fo extremely difficult by the
Trees they had laid very thick together upon the
Shore round all the Cove, with their Branches lying
towards the Sea, for the Diftance of 20 in fome,
and of 30 Yards in other places, between the Lines
and the Water's Edge that, had our People not
been expofed to fuch a Fire from the Enemy, the
bare Attempt of poflefling thefe Lines, would have
been like that of travelling towards them thro' a
wild Foreft, from the interwoven Branches of one
Tree to thofe of another with incredible Fatigue
and endlefs Labour.
Nor, was this Stratagem pofTible to be fufpedted
at any great Diftance, as the Place had the Appea-
rance of one continued Green of little fcattered
Branches of Fir. And, but very few of the Guns
on their Lines were to be diftinguifhed out of the
Reach of their Metal ; the reft were artfully con-
cealed from our View with Spruce- Branches, until
the Boats advanced towards the Shore with the
Refolution of forcing the Works — The latent De-
ftruction was then unmafied, by the Removal of
the Spruce-Branches, and the adventurous Spectators
were foon convinced, thofe Works were not capable
of being forced by Numbers much fuperior to
theirs. The Enemy depended much'on their Strength
here, which perhaps occafioned them to be fome-
what
Of LOUISEOURG.
what premature in their Exertion of it : For, June
before our Boats came near the Water's Edge, they
began with great Alertnefs to play their Batteries,
and to fire red hot Bails, befides a continual Dis-
charge of their fmall Arms among them. The
Conlequence had been much more fatal to our Peo-
ple, few if any of whom would have efcaped, had
the Enemy timed their Fire with more Judgment,
by permitting the Boats to have actually landed
their Men on that narrow fhoal Beach, taking no
other Notice of them until they had been all in .
their Power, than they had done before of the
Fire from our Frigates, and of fome Boats that
had been with Commodore JDurell to reconnoitre
the Shore, before any of the Troops had put off
from the Tranfports.
Exafperated, not difcouraged, at this Repulfe
from the Enemy's irrefiftible Fire, the Troops of
that Wing drew off with all convenient Expedition
towards the Centre, determined to rufh on Shore
wherever they faw any Probability of Succefs,
whatever Lofs they might fuftain. Soon after this,
the Lieutenants Browne and Hopkins, with Enfign
Grant and about 100 of the Light Infantry happily
gained the Shore over almoit impracticable Rocks
and Steeps to the Right of the Cove. Upon which,
Brigadier Wolfe directed the Remainder of this
Command to pufli on Shore as foon as poflible, and
as well as they could which heightened their
eager Impatience fo much, that the Light Infantry,
Highlanders and Grenadiers intermixed, rufhed for-
ward with impetuous Emulation, without Regard
to any previous Orders, and piqued themfelves
mightily which Boat could be moft dexterous and
a&ive in getting firft on Shore. In this manner,
C though
14 The Reduction
June 8. tnou §k a ^ ^ e while expofed to the Fire of a Bat-
tery of three Guns, that fometimes raked, fome-
times flanked their Boats very furioufly, and of
fmall Arms within 20 Yards of them, they were
all expeditioufly landed with little Lois, befides
about 22 Grenadiers, who were unfortunately
drowned, by having their Boats ftove in the bold
Attempt*
Among the foremoft of thefe Parties was Briga-
dier Wolfe, who jumped out of his Boat into the
Surf to get to the Shore, and was readily followed
by Numbers of the Troops, amidft a moil obftinate
Fire of the Enemy. Soon after landed Brigadier
Laurence, and was followed by the reft of the Bri-
gades with all poflible Expedition. After him in a
little time Brigadier Wbitmore, and the Divifion of
the right Wing, gained the Shore amidft a conti-
nual Charge of Shot and Shells from the Enemy's
Lines, feveral of the latter reaching alfo as far as
the Brigades in the Centre. And, laft of all landed
the Commander in Chief Major-General Amherfi in
the Rear, full of the higheft Satisfaction from feeing
the Resolution, Bravery and Succefs of the Troops
in furmounting Difficulties and defpifing Bangers.
A noble Specimen of the Spirit he had to depend
on their exerting, in the Courfe of this Undertak-
ing ; where they muft expect to encounter fo many
of the one and of the other. In fhort, never per-
haps might this Obfervation be more juftly applied
to the heroic Bravery and Conduct of EngHJh Offi-
cers and Soldiers, than on this remarkable Occa-
fion — Regis ad Exemplum totus componitur Or bis.
It would be an injurious Diminution of the Glory
our landing Parties acquired in this hazardous En-
terprize, not to remark particularly the Difficulties
they had to furmount. — Such a boifterous Surf
drove
of LOUISBOURG. 1$
drove on moft Parts of the Shore at that time June
ftove a great Number of their Boats, by which
feveral of the Men were fo much hurt and bruifed,
as to be very incapable of helping and taking Care of
themfelves, and fome Others were crumed to pieces
between the Boats and the Rocks. Moft, if not all
of thofe who did land, were obliged to wade through
the great Swell, themfelves and their Arms much
wetted j and after that, to fcramble up fuch rugged
Rocks, and almoft perpendicular Precipices as to the
wary Enemy's Engineers feemed in need of no
Fortification or Defence, their own fteep, rough
Afcent having been judged beyond the Attempt of
Men under Arms before thisglorious Morning. And,
to complete the difcouraging Scene, they were all the
while expofed to the utmoft Fury of the Enemy's
Fire, and not in a Situation of exerting themfelves in
any Kind of Defence, except by terrifying the afto-
nilhed Foe with the refolute Bravery of gaining
what had till now been thought an inacceflible
Shore, and landing in the moil unexpected, one
who had not the ftrongeft Proofs of the Fact might
fay, incredible Places. But none, nor even all thefe
Difcouragements were able to damp the truly Eng-
lifh Spirit of our People in this brave Attempt — A
national Spirit that our Soldiery are never known
to want under the Conduct of fuch Commanders as
fignalized themfelves here — a Spirit that will give
both the Officers and Soldiers of this memorable Day
an honourable Diftinction among Englifhmen, as
long as Britifh Bravery mall be fuccefsful in the
Defence of Britifh Liberty,
The Spirit and Fortitude, which thus vilibly
actuated all thefe Troops in this heroic Attempt, no
lefs remarkably diftinguifhed their whole fuceced-
ing Conduct ; which was but one continued Exer-
C 2 tion
1 6 " The ReduBion
June 8. tl0n °f tne gfeateft Bravery. They inftantly at-
tacked the next Battery to them in flank with fa
much Vigour, as foon forced a numerous Body of
the Enemy to abandon their ftrong Poft with great
Precipitation. And, fo great was the Refolution
they Ihewed in furrounding and attacking the Ene-
my's extenfive Lines, that they had hardly given
, there a Specimen of true Englijh Bravery, before
they faw themfelves left Majters of the Shore with
all its ftrong Works. The daftardly Panic that
appeared to ilacken the Enemy's Tire as foon as
they faw our Men landed pretty near them, now
{hewed itfelf very confpicuoufly by its Effects, the
little Refiftance they made when their Numbers are
compared with ours, and the great Confufion with
' which they fled every way before our Men into the
contiguous Woods ; while feveral of them were
killed in their Flight, and upwards of 70 taken
Prifoners : Among thefe were two Captains of
Grenadiers and two Lieutenants, who with the Men
were immediately fent on board the Fleet. The
French Officer that commanded here was, Lieute-
nant Col. M. St. Julien. Our General Officers were
all this time remarkably active : And, it would be
an Injuftice to their Merits not to fay, that we owe
this Succefs chiefly to their animating Prefence and
' prudent Conduct.
The Enemy's Flight was the more precipitate,
from an Apprehenfion, tpat Brigadier IVhitmore,
who had landed the Troops on the Right, would
attempt to cut off their Retreat into the Garrifon of
Louifljourg \ which nuift then have foon fallen into
our Hands, as there were not, by their own Ac-
counts fince, above 300 Men left in it that Morn-
ing, the reft having been drawn to the Shore to
pppofe our landing : For, they well knew, that
Of LOUISBOURG I/
the Succefs of their Efforts there, was effectually j t
to decide the Fate of Louisbourg; which is not
tenable for any long time againft a numerous Army
with a good Train of Artillery, affiftedand fupported
by fuch a Fleet as we had fo near at hand.
After this fignal Succefs, which exceeded our
moft fanguine Expectations, the Troops were dif-
pofed in fuch a manner, as at once to pofTefs the
Shore, and to purfue the Enemy. The Party that
remained at the Water fide, fecured the poflefTion
of the Shore all the Way to Louijbourgh for feveral
Miles in Length, and found in different Flaces
abandoned by the flying Enemy, feveral Arms, a
good Quantity of Frovifions and Ammunition, 1 7
Pieces of Cannon, and 14 large Swivels-, a Fur-
nace for red hot Bails, and two Mortars, one of
Brafs of 8 Inches, and another of Iron of 10
Inches Diameter, with a Shell in it ready to be
fired — but its late Matters were in too much
Hurry. Among the Slain was one Officer, and a
native Indian Chief, a very flout, well made, and,
as fome of our Troops can witnefs, a very active,
intrepid Man, with a Medal of Diftinclion from
the French King, hung round his Keck, which
was prefented to Admiral Bofcawen.
The other Party that was imployed in the Pur-
fuit of the difperfed Enemy, under the Command
of the Brigadiers Laurence and Wolfe, drove them
over rocky Hills and boggy MorafTes for Security
under the Cannon of Louisbourg, by ro o'Clock
the fame Morning. The Furfuit concluded with
the Difcharge of feveral Fieces of Cannon from the
Ramparts of the Town towards our Troops ; which
did them no Damage at all, and were of lingular
Service, in pointing out to the General Officers the
Biftance from the Town, where they could encamp
with
1 8 The Reduction
g> with Security to inveft it. Soon after, the Garrifon
'took the feafonable Precaution of fetting Fire to
the Barracks at the Grand Battery which they had
before difmantled and ruined ; and of deftroying
all their Out-buildings in one general Conflagra-
tion, which made a prodigious Blaze all that After-
noon, and a great* Part of the Night ; and left
nothing Handing within two Miles of the Town-
Walls, but the Towers at the Grand Battery, and
fome Chimneys and Gable Ends of their wretched
Hovels. The Perfuers that very Afternoon, after
reconnoitring the Ground, marked out the Camp,
which our Army afterwards occupied during the
whole Siege.
The Pr if oners we made at landing faid, that the
greateft Part of our Bufinefs was done, in the land-
ing of our Troops which their Engineers had be-
fore allured the Governor of Louifbourg, was im-
poffible for almoft any Number of Men to do — and
that none, but Madmen, would have attempted it,
where the Englijh did. Our Light Infantry, High-
landers and Rangers they termed the Englijh Sa-
vages, perhaps in Contradiftinction to their own na-
tive Indians, Canadians, &c. the true French Savages.
Thefe Light Infantry were a Corps of 550 Vo-
lunteers chofen as Markfmen out of the moft adUve
refolute Men from all the Battalions of Regulars,
drefTed fome in blue, fome in green Jackets and
Drawers, for the eafier brufhing through the
Woods with Ruffs of black Bear's Skin round their
Necks, the Beard of their upper Lips, fome grown
into V/hijkers, others not fo, but all well Jmutted*
on that part \ with little round Hats like feveral of,
our Seamen — Their Arms were a Fufil, Cartouch-
Box of Balls and Flints, and a Powder horn flung
over their Shoulders. The Rangers are a Body of
2 Irregulars^
Of LoUISBOURGi ig
Irregulars, who have a more cut- throat, favagejune
Appearance; which carries in it fomething of natu-
ral Savages: The Appearance of the Light Infan-
try has in it more of artificial Savages.
The Day of landing Sir Charles Hardy, with his
Squadron, joined Mr. Bofcawen's in Gabreufe Bay %
from his fevere Cruize on this Coaft ever fince the
Beginning of April Some of his Ships had fuffered
fo much in their Men, chiefly by the Scurvy, that
they wanted A (lift a nee to bring them to an Anchor
in the Bay — the greater Part of them recovered
apace when put on Shore.
In the Harbour of Louijbourg we faw five or
fix large Ships of the Line, befides about as many
Frigates that had efcaped the conftant Vigilance of
Sir Charles's Squadron, fome in Snow-Storms,
others in thick foggy Weather, fo well known to
all that have cruized upon the Coaft at that Seafon
of the Year.
As your Ignorance of it may betray you, like
many others of our Friends in the Country into the
Abfurdity of fuppofing Sir Charles's Cruize there
with his Squadron little more than as an Officer
with a Party of Soldiers pofted on the Side of a
Turn pike Road, in fight of the Gate, to watch
a Party of the Enemy expected to pafs that
way ; whom if he does not furprize, you will fay
he has not done his Duty like a good Officer.
Let me tell you, not only that the Coaft is
extenfive, and that Winds and Currents would not
always permit him to keep his Station — but even,
when he could keep it, the Snow- Storms and Fogs
often prevented our feeing any Objects at the
Diflance of our Ship's Length. You will be eafier
convinced of this, by an Inftance of each.
The
20 of LoUISBOURG.
8. The 27th of dprilwasa. Day of fuch Rime and
Storms of Snow, that we could not fee one of our
own Squadron but once, towards the Evening.
The Method of keeping Ships together on fuch
Occafions, is either by lying-to, or by firing
Fog-Guns every half hour that they make Sail.
he Frudent and fome other French Men of War*
having made the Land the Day before, ftole un-
perceived along Shore to the Mouth of Louijbourg
Harbour, with the greater!: Security, from having
heard our Fog-Guns at a Diftance, as they have
fince told us. Now, what Prudence or Vigilance
could poflibly have prevented what, you fee, was
out of the Power of both ?
Let me add another Inftance to give you fome
Idea of the Thicknefs of the Bank-Fogs on the
Coaft of Cape-Breton — In the Night of the 5th of
May we had fo fevere a Froft, that the next Morn-
ing all our Rigging was cafed over with fuch a
thick Ice, that it was not capable of being worked,
. till the Ice was beaten off from the Ropes, which
took up feveral hours of that Forenoon. That Ice
was nothing elfe but congealed Fog, as we had no
Rain or Snow the whole Night. Our Officers com-
puted the Quantity of Ice beaten off from the
Rigging of our Tingle Ship, between 6 and 8 Tun
Weight. After this, you will not be furprized at
my telling you, that we were for 16 Days together
without Sight of Land, on Account of the Thick-
nefs of the Fog, though we were every Day within
a proper Diftance to fee it, had the Air been tolera-
bly clear. On fuch a Coaft, what can the niceft
Vigilance do, without fuch a Number of Ships as
might form a Line of almoft equal Length to it?
9. The Remainder of the Troops were debarked
from the Tranfports, that could not conveniently
be
of LoUISBOURG. 21
be landed the Day before, and were not judged im-j^ 9 .
mediately neceffary to be fent for, from the extraor-
dinary Succefs of the Parties who firft landed. The
Sloops fent the 7th returned from Lorembec, with
the Troops and Artillery. — There was a Lieutenant
Colonel's Command polled in and round Kennington
Cove, to guard the Shore againft the accidental In-
curfions of the Savages from the adjacent Woods :
Others of the Troops were ftationed at proper
Diftances on fomewhat of a Road through the
Woods, to keep the Communication open and
uninterrupted between the Shore and the Ground
that had the Day before been marked out for the
Camp : The reft were imployed in clearing the
Camp Ground. There were, befides feveral Out-
Centinels, Parties of Light Infantry and Rangers
ordered to patrole round the Rear of the Camp
from the left Wing to the Back of the Poft at Ken-
nington Cove, to prevent all Surprize andDifturbance
from lurking Indians, Canadians that were expected, •
or any fcattered Parties of the Enemy that might
have been cut off from the Garrifon the Day before,
or occafionally detached out of it afterwards.
The great Surf this Day interrupted the landing
the Baggage, &c. This Day fome Troops from
France to the Number of 400 Men, part of the
Regiment of Cambife got into the Garrifon, as
we afterwards learned : They were landed at the
Harbour of St. Anne in the N. E. part of the
Ifland of Cape Breton out of 4 or 5 Men of War,
who foon made the beft of their way off, but whi-
ther, we could not be informed. Thefe, we were
told, were the fame Ships that had been chafed
towards the Shore laft Spring in the Bay of Bifcay
by Sir Edward Hawke's Squadron.
D
10. Our
22
The Reduction
'June. io. Our Troops were imployed in clearing the
Camp Ground, pitching of Tents and carrying
the Baggage, &c. that had been landed by the re-
maining Boats of the Men of War and Tranfports.
This Day the Surf was a great Interruption to the
landing of Stores. There was, every Day that
would permit, one of the Captains of the Line of
Battle Ships ordered to infpedt and direft the land-
ing of all the Stores and Artillery from the Tranf-
ports neceflary for the Camp, and to attend this
Duty until it was over, in a continued Rotation, ac-
cording to their Seniority. The turbulent Surf almoft
continually driving on the Shore, made this a very
troublefome Employmentto the Direclors^ and very
haraffing to the Seamen - % fwamped and Hove many
of the Boats, and was fome Days fo great as to put
it out of the Power of any Boats to get on Shore.
This Afternoon Sir Charles Hardy , by Signal
from the Admiral, flipped his Cable, failed from
Gabreufe Bay with 7 or 8 Ships of the Line under
his Command, and anchored off the Mouth of
houijbourg Harbour; to prevent, if poflible, the
French Squadron from getting out to Sea, when-
ever they might be difpofed to improve the Op-
portunity of a fair Wind in a dark Night or a
Fog, to fave their Ships from falling into ourHands.
11. Our Troops were employed as the Day be-
fore, and began to make Roads in the Camp over
Rocks and Morajfes, otherwife impaflable by Carri-
ages, and hardly paffable by the Men without any
Burden at all. This Day a Serjeant Major of
Fife her 9 s Regiment of Volontairs Etr angers, with
4 of the Men, deferted from the Garrifon, and
gave us Intelligence, that their Number did not
exceed 4000, and including the Inhabitants that
bore Arms, not 5000 Men— that the greateft part
of Louisroui^^^ 23
of this Regiment were fo well difpofe to defert,
that they only watched an Opportunity to quit a
Place and Service they had been trepanned into,
contrary to the Promifes made to them at their
inlifting in the French Service — and that the J£nemy
had deftroyed the Grand and Ligbt-houfe jBatteries,
and called in all their Out- Polls. Some light 6
pounders that were expected to follow the landing
of the Troops, could not be got on Shore till now;
when fome Artillery Stores were brought along with
them.
1 2. About 2 o'Clock in the Morning Major Scott 7***>
marched with 500 Light Infantry and Rangers,
taking a fatiguing Sweep through the Woods, to
go to take PofTefiion of the Ligbt-houfe Battery ;
and .about 5, was followed by Brigadier Wolfed with
4 Companies of Grenadiers commanded by Lieute-
nant-Col. Hale, and 1200 Men detached from the
Line, They found this Battery deftroyed by the
Enemy, and but 4 pieces of Cannon left, which they
had fpiked up. A proper Quantity of Artillery,
Tools, &c. was fent thither by Sea. The Situation
of the Place was the mod advantageous that could
be obtained, for annoying the lfland Battery , and
the Ships, with our Shot and Shells. On the Sea-
fide there was a little Cove, very convenient
for landing Artillery and Stores for the Batteries to
be erected here — befides two fmall Encampments
deferted by the Enemy, with their Tents (landing,
in which were fome Provifions, Utenfils; and a
great Quantity of cured Fifh at Lorembec. All the
landing Places here were defended with flrong
Breajt-works of the fame Conftruction with thofe
round Kennington Cove. At the Cove, where our
Qftujon was landed, there were two pieces of the
Enemy's Cannon left with their Trunnions knocked
D % off 9
i\ The Reduction
off, and at their upper Encampment 3 eight pound-
ers, two of them {piked up. After Brigadier Wolfe
had reconnoitred this Poll, his whole Detachment
incamped themfelves here about 4 in the After-
noon, and the Light Infantry and Rangers marched
back to the Grand Camp.
June. 13. At Day-break this Detachment began to
make a Road for carrying the Artillery? from the
landing Cove, to the Spot fixed upon for a Battery.
About 9 o'Clock this Camp was alarmed by a
MefTage from Major Rofs? who commanded a de-
tached Guard at about a Mile and an half's diftance,
between the Camp and the Wood, that a large
Party of the Enemy from the Garrifon was advanc-
ing towards his Poft — upon which 4 Companies of
Grenadiers, with a large Detachment from the Line?
marched to fuftain the Major. But they foon faw,
that the Enemy came only to burn fome ftraggling
Houfes to the Eattward of the Grand Battery near
the Beach of the Harbour, and then retreated
peaceably into the Garrifon? as our Detachment did
to the Camp at the Light- boufe.
The working Parties in the Grand Camp conti-
nued employed on the Roads? by Day, and during
- the Night in throwing up 3 Redoubts? on the Emi-
nences from the Left to the Right. This Day a
Body of about 300 Men made a Sally from the Gar-
rifon upon their advanced Party — but in about an
hour and an half they were repulfed by fome few
Regulars and Light Infantry.
The Light -boufe Camp being incommoded by
the Enemy's Cannon from the Ifland Battery, about
9 o'Clock this Evening the Line removed to a
Situation of greater Security — but the Grenadiers
did not until Day -break.
of LoUISBOURG. 25
This Day, and fome others, the Service of land-
! ing the Stores and Artillery was interrupted by the
Jexceflive6#r/ upon the Shore, and many Boats were
I fwamped, and lbme Provifions damaged and loft.
14. About Day-break, while the Grenadiers ofjt
! the Light-houfe Camp were on their march in re-
I moving their Camp, they received Orders to fuftain
i Major Rofs's Poft, who had notice from the Ran-
i gersy that a Body of the Enemy appeared to move
! that way. But, before they joined him, Counter-
1 Orders were ifiued to them; on feeing the Enemy
retreating, having, as it appeared, intended nothing
more than to alarm them.
This Day the Befieged towed a Sloop, with two
24 pounders mounted on her Bows, into the Mouth
of the Harbour, the better to annoy Brigadier
Wolfe** little Encampment near the Shore for land-
ing his Artillery. She lay at Anchor near the IJland
Battery, fired her Cannon for fome Hours, and
then rettirned into the Harbour. She came to her
Station again in the Afternoon, and fired for about
an Hour and an half, with as little Damage to the
Encampment, as before. She fired alfo upon the
Diana Frigate and Hunter Sloop, that were ftationed
at Anchor as near the Harbour's Mouth as they
could go with Security, to give the Alarm to Sir
Charles Hardy's Squadron, that lay farther out in
the Offing, whenever the French Squadron mould
make any Attempts to pufh out to Sea. The Diana
returned the Sloop's Fire, but found the Sloop out
of the Reach of her Metal ; while the Sloop's
heavier Metal reached her, and at times killed and
wounded 6 of her Men. The Diana dared not to
go nearer in, as the Sloop was covered by 10 two
and forty pounders on the IJland, pointed towards
the Offing.
This
26
The Reduction
This Night feveral Pieces of Cannon, and fome
Mortars were landed for Brigadier Wolfe's Detach-
ment.
The working Parties at the Grand Camp were
conftantly employed upon the Roads and Redoubts^
and in landing Artillery and Stores. — Thofe three
Redoubts were neceffary to fecure a Communication
from the Right to the Left, in the Front of the
Camp.
1 5. There was a large Party at Work in drawing
Artillery and carrying Fafcines and Picquets for the.
Light-boufe Battery. This Day 4 Mortars were"
ftiipped for the Light-houfe, with a Quantity of
Provifions and Stores from the Tranfports.
16. The working Parties were employed as the
Day before— —and upon \ht Roads. — No Artillery
could yet be landed for the Grand Camp.
17. They were employed in the fame manner.
This Day two 8 Inch Mortars and 3 Royals, were
fent to the Light -houfe Camp.
18. This Morning the landing of Stores was
interrupted by the great Surf driving on the Shore.
In the Afternoon fome 24 pounders were got on
Shore. The working Parties of the Grand Camp
were employed as before on the Roads [for the Artil-
lery. — The working Parties at the Light -houfe were
employed in landing and drawing Artillery, and at
Night in erecting Batteries, and mounting Cannon
and Mortars.
This Night VEcho Frigate of 32 Guns bound
to Quebec with Stores and Provifions got out of
the Harbour, by the favour of a dark foggy Night,
and a briik Gale, which drove Sir Charles Hardy
and his Squadron to Sea — Some of his Frigates
chafed, took and brought her in with them a Day
or two afterwards.
19. Sir
<f LOUISBOURG. 27
19. Sir Charles's Squadron returned to their Sta-^w,
tion off the Harbour's Mouth. The working Par-
1 ties of the Grand Camp continued on the Reads t
I and in landing Artillery and Stores.
Between 9 and 10 this Night two Batteries* one
of Cannon and one of Mortars, were opened at the
Light -houfe upon the Ships in the Harbour, and
upon the I/land Battery, which continued a brifk
Fire until Day-light, that was as brifkly returned,
but without any Damage on the Light-houfe fide,
on Account of the Height of its Situation, and
the Shelter of Rockc and Hillocks. The Bomb
Battery there confifted of 2 Mortars of 1 3 Inches
Diameter, two of 8, and 6 Royals. At fome
Diftance were 2 Hawitzers of 8 Inches, and fmall
Batteries of one, two, and three Pieces of Cannon ,
12 and 24 pounders, in all feven, properly difpofed
ij along the Shore to fire both riochet and point-blank.
1 The whole Line marched to fuftain the Batteries,
i if the Ship's Crews had made any Attempts to
I attack them. Part of the left Wing of the Grand
A*my and the Light Infantry were in Motion, to
3 prevent any Parties out of the Garrifon from attack-
ji ing Brigadier Wolfe* $ Detachment in flank. General
Amherft's Camp fired feveral times in the Night at
the Covert-way 9 to divert the Attention of the
Garrifon to that fide.
20. So warm a Fire from the Light -houfe was
continued upon the Ships, that they judged k
; advifeable in the Afternoon to warp in about 600
! Yards nearer to the Town ; which was too great
a Diftance from our Batteries, to give them much
Difturbance. At Night the Mortars there, were
chiefly directed to the lfiand Battery. The Enemy
, 1 burned an old Ship in the Harbour.
it. A
28
The Reduction
Jum* 21. A great Part of this Day there was a ftrong
Fire from the Ships towards the Light-houfe Battery,
but without any Effect, but that of expending the
Enemy's Ammunition — as there was alfo from the
I/land at Intervals, with as little Damage to our
People or Batteries. The Ships fired feveral Shot
into the left Wing of the Grand Camp, as did the
Garrifon at the Redoubts, and the right Wing, and
fometimes at two or three People, and fingle Paf-
fengers from one Place to another; but, without
Effect.
The Mortars at the Light-houfe played brifkly
on the I/land-, the Fire was returned from thence
with 5 pieces of Cannon directed that way, and 2
ten Inch Mortars.
The working Parties were employed on the Roads,
in landing Stores and Artillery, and in carrying
Stores for the Grand Camp.
22. The Grand Camp improved the Advantage
of this Day's Fog, as well as a Part of lafl Night in
throwing up an advanced Redoubt between the
Centre and Right Redoubt, to facilitate the Pofleflion
of the Green- hill, the moft commanding Eminence
from the Camp- fide of the Town, at the Diftance
of about 8oo Yards from the Glacis, the eafier to
carry on their Approaches to the Walls.
Four hundred Men under the Command of Lieu-
tenant Colonel Hale were employed to erect a Bat- ,
tery of fix 24 pounders at the Light-houfe, to play
upon the Ijland, whofe Battery was frequently
troublefome, though it did no great Execution. ;
This Day a Block-houfe was erected to fecure the;
Communication to the Light-houfe. .
The landing of Artillery and Stores was this
Day interrupted by the exceffive Surf on the Shore,
and feveral Boats were fwamped and ftove.
23. A j
Of LOUISBOURG. 29
23. A Company of Grenadiers worked hard onj t
the new Battery at the Light -houfe another Par-
ty was employed in ere&ing a Battery to play on
the Ships from an Eminence behind the Grand Bat-
tery — the Ships gave frequent Interruptions to this
Party. The Garrifon kept a pretty conflant Fire
directed towards the working Parties from the
Grand Camp — as did the I/land- Bat tery towards the
Light-houfe Parties — the latter was chiefly returned
in the Night time.
About this time they began the Epaulement, a
Work for covering and facilitating the Approaches
to the Town by the Green-Hill. This Work was
about a Quarter of a Mile in length, about nine Feet
high, and fix teen Feet broad, made with Gabions ,
Fafcines and Earth, to be Proof againft all Cannon
Ball. It employed as many Men as could be fpared
for many Days; who, at the Beginning, were much
interrupted by the Water of the very wet Morafs y
upon which they were obliged to make their Road r
and to throw up this [Vork, with Earth brought from
fome diftance.
Great Quantities of Gabions and Fafcines were
landed and carried up for this JVork^ with all pofli-
ble Speed and Diligence.
24. The working Parties were employed as the
Day before, and with the fame Interruptions. In
the Park of Artillery, thirteen 24, and feven 12
pounders this Day.
25. The Light-houfe Battery opened at Day-
light upon the Ifland with five 24 pounders : The
Ships and the Ifland returned their Fire brifkly,and
wounded one of their 24 pounders. In the After-
noon the Embrazures at the eaft End of the Ifland
Battery, appeared very much fhattered by the Shot
from the Light-houfe— Sine?. 4 o'Clocl; this After-
E noon,
30 The ReduBion.
noon, the Enemy fired only Shells from thence ;
which made our People fuppofe that moft of the
Guns that bore on the Light- houje, were either
wounded or difmounted. The Battery at Maurepas
Pointy and the Men of War, kept a conftant Fire
directed that way ; but with little or no Effect, on
Account of the great Diftance.
June. 26. The advanced Parties of the Grand Camp
had a Skirmifh with a reconnoitring Party of the
Befieged, who had come out to fet Fire to the
Block- boufe-, but were foon forced back without
effecting their Defign. This Night our Troops
got Pofleffion of the Green-bill, without any great
Oppofition, and with very, little Lofs.
27. A more conftant Fire of Guns and Mortars
from the Ships and Garrifon upon our working and
advanced Parties. The Light hcufe Battery now
and then threw a Shell upon the I/land, to prevent
the Enemy from repairing their Works. A brafs
24 pounder was loft in 12 Fathom Water, by flip-
ing off the Float for landing Artillery, they called
Catamaran. This Day the Admiral fent on Shore
200 Marines, or rather Troops fecving as Marines
on this Expedition, who took Poft at Kennikgton
Cove, and were a great Relief to the Army in
Camp.
28. The Enemy kept a pretty conftant Fire upon
the Grand Camp and Batteries, with little Effect.
This Night they funk two Frigates and two
Store- ftoips with a great Weight of Stones in them >
they were faftened-together with Cables, and moored
down with Anchors, in the narrow Entrance of
their Harbour, to prevent more than one of our
Ships at a time from getting in there, if we mould
think it neceffary at any time of the Siege to force
the Harbour with our Fleet.
29. Some
of LoUISBOURG. 31
29. Some Indians fhewed themfelves and killed
one of our Men — the Light Infantry purfued, killed
and fcalped two, and brought in another of them:
This whole Night the work of the Epaulement
was much interrupted, by the brifk Fire the Enemy
conftantiy made on our working Parties there. The
greateft Interruption they had was from UArethuJe
Frigate, ftationed as high up the Harbour on that
fide as the Depth of Water would permit, with her
Broad-fide bearing upon the low Pafs, by which
our Troops were obliged to advance, to make their
Approaches-, which the Epaulement., when it was
completed enabled them to do, with more Eafe,
and an inconfiderable Lofs^
30. A very brifk Fire from the Ships and Garri-j t
fon was made upon our working Parties. Some
Shells were thrown from the Battery at Maurepas
Pointy and from the JJland upon the Parties at
the Light-houfe — In the Night thefe Parties
worked very brifkly in drawing Cannon from
the Light -houfe, about the Diftance of two Miles,
over uneven Ground never fmoothed into a Road,
to their new Batteries near the Grand Battery, to
play upon the Frigate and the reft of the Ships, and
to remove them once more, if poflible •, that the
Grand Camp might carry on their Approaches with
the greater Security and more Expedition. Some
People of the Garrifon, to exprefs their Surprife at
this and fome other Inftances of the Suddennefs of
Brigadier lVolfe\ Motions from one Place to ano-
ther, and their Sentiments of the Effect of his Ope-
tions, ufed to fay There is no Certainty where
to find him — but, whenever he goes, he carries
with him a Mortar in one Pocket, and a 24 pounder
in the other.
E 2 July i.
32 ¥he Reduction
July. July i. Upon Intelligence received, that the
Enemy's Picquets on a wooding Party of about
400 had in the Morning crept out about a Mile
beyond the Barrafoy Brigadier Wolfe at the Head
of 100 Light Infantry, fupported by near 300
Regulars, with Orders left for the Picquets of the
Line to advance, if necefTary, in about a quarter of
an Hour came up with the Enemy who made a
Stand for about half an hour or better. But, being
repulfed in this Skirmim, they began to retreat
from Hill to Hill, but in good Order, and firing
frequently. Our Party purfued them all the while,
referving their Fire till they came very near -, when
they gave them fo warm a Salute, that they made
a precipitate Retreat to their former PofL This
Affair lafted about two Hours and an half, with only
6 or 8 of our Men wounded. By this Succefs the
Brigadier became Mafter of two very advantageous
Eminences, that he never quitted. A Redoubt was
thrown up with all Expedition, to maintain the
farther! Poft; and a little nearer advanced, a Redan,
"within 400 Yards of the Enemy's Picquets, amidft
a brifk cannonading both from the Town and the
Ships. From this Situation our Batteries, without
being much expofed, could play on the Ships at a
good Diftance, and by that Means greatly facilitate
the approaches from the Grand Camp.
In the Afternoon a Party near the Right, after a
flight Skirmifh, repulfed another Party of the Ene-
my towards Cape Noir, who attempted to furprize
and interrupt our working Parties. The Garrifon
continued a pretty conftant cannonading.
Some Deferters came in from the Garrifon, who
were all fent on board the Fleet , that they might
not have even a PofTibility of acting as Spies under
the Pretence of beiner Defer isrs.
This
of Louisbourg. 33
This Night two other Frigates were funk at the
Entrance of the Harbour, very near the others —
Part of almoft all their Top-mafts appeared above
Water.
2. There were about 100 Marines fent on Shore July.
from the Admiral's Ship properly ofncer'd, to join
Brigadier Wolfe's Party near the Grand- Battery.
3. Our Troops were now very indefatigable in
forming their Lines.
4. Notwithstanding the warm cannonading from
the Befieged every Day, Five hundred Men were
conftantly employed in making Fafcines for the
Roads and Epaulement.
5. The faithful Partizans of the French, their
few native Indians, fhewed themfelves very watch-
ful about the Edges of the Woods, by taking off
fome of the Tranfports Men that were too curioufly
adventurous, contrary to Orders, and intirely igno-
rant how to deal with fuch a wary lurking Enemy.
Sometimes they nabbed or carried off an Out-Cen-
tinel, after creeping through Weeds and Shrubs, and
fculking there for feveral hours together, to watch
an Opportunity either of mooting, or ruining in a
Body upon him unperceived, when his Back was
turned.
Laft Night Brigadier Wolfe began to play a Bat-
tery of 7 Pieces of Cannon, 12 and 24 pounders,
and two 13 Inch Mortars on the Ships, while the
reft of his Party were very active in getting more
Guns mounted.
6. The Vigilance and Activity of General Am-
berft, and of the Brigadiers Whit more and Laurence
in forwarding their grand Beftgn from the Camp-
fide, was not difcouraged or ieffened by the brifk,
almoft conftant cannonading of the Befieged, both
from their Ships and Garrifcu\ which only took off"
a Man
34 *Ihe Reduction
a Man or two now and then, and at other times
wounded fome few others. The working Parties
from the Grand Camp^ always under the Infpe&ion
of one of the General Officers, were conftantly em-
ployed in forwarding the Approaches \ while the
advanced and covering Parties always maintained
the Advantages they had already gained, and often
poflfeffed themfelves of more advanced Situations,,
to enable them with Succefs to employ the van:
Train of Artillery and Quantity of Stores of all
Kinds, the Officers and Men of the Fleet had now
landed from the Tranfports, in all the Places that
were moft convenient to their Roads. The Ap-
proaches to the Town were greatly delayed by
unavoidable Caufes — almoft a continual Surf on the
Shore of landing the numerous Bogs neceffary to
be drained before any Roads could be made over
them for Carriages to pafs ; and the making of
luch a Cover as the Epaulement from the Fire of the
Ships in the Harbour, to which the moft conve-
nient Pafs of Approach was expofed. Our Army
had a Demonftration how necejjary it is to have a
Squadron of Ships in that Harbour in the Time of
a Siege ; and the Garri/on, of how little other Ser-
vice an inferior Squadron to that of the Befiegers
is, but to prolong the Day of Capitulation.. All
the Troops were in good Health and high Spirits,,
and fuffered confiderably lefs than might have been
expected from the conftant Cannonading of the
Befieged.
7. Parties of the Troops were employed this
Day as others had been on the former Days. Their
Indifference to what the unexperienced might .call a
dreadful Fire from the Befieged at Intervals, was
very remarkable. They regarded the Enemy's fre-
quent Shot and Shells, juft as littk as they did the
random
of Louisbourg. 35
random Fire of their Mufquetry ; the Shells in gene-
ral rather lefs efpecially in the Nighty when they
could eafily difcern the Line of their Direclion by
the Blaze of their Fufees* — and if they fufpected
that they were within the Diftance of a burfting
Shelly they inftantly threw themfelves flat on their
Faces upon the Ground, and almoft always with
Security — their greateft Danger was from a Shell
that did not burft for fome time after it fell
8. This Night the Enemy made a vigorous Sally July.
from Cape Noir about 1 1 o'Clock upon our ad-
vanced and working Parties at the Lines, where
Brigadier Laurence commanded. The Salliers with
a Body of about 900 Men, by the Darknefs of the
Night and the Silence of their Motions, were for-
tunate enough to pafs unobferved by fome of our
advanced Parties commanded by Lord Dundonaly
and to furprize the. working Parties in the Trenches >
who with fome Difficulty retreated, as they had not
their Arms to defend themfelves. Our covering
Parties no fooner heard their Fire, than they ad-
vanced, and, after a very brifk Oppofition, bravely
repulfed the Salliers in a little time, with the Lois
of two Captains and 17 of their Men, wounded
feveral others, and made fome Prifoners ; among
whom was a wounded Officer, who fome time after-
wards loft his Life by his Wounds in our Hofpi-
tal, becaufe he would not part with a Leg to
fave it. The Lofs our Parties fufbined in, this
Skirmilh, was a Captain and 5 Men killed, 17
wounded, and 1 1 made Prifoners, befides the
wounded Lieutenant Tew, and Captain Bontein an
Engineer. The Garrifon fent our a Flag of T ruce
for time to bury their Dead.
It is remarkable that the Officers and the Party on
this Sally y owed what Refolution they (hewed to.
. v . the
36 The Reduction
the flamy, temporary Courage infpired by Claret,
which they had very plentifully guzzled before their
Attempt, as appeared from the Intoxication of our
Prifoners. Some Beferters reported, that no Parties
could be found in the Garrijon, forward enough to
go on this Service, without being firft animated by
a fufficient Quantity of Wine.
t fy m 9. By Order of the Admiral, Volunteers for the
Company of Miners were enquired for on board all
the Men of War- All the Men who profefTed
themfelves acquainted with the ufe of the Spade
and Pickax, (hewed great Readinefs to go on this
Service — moft of the Men on board. V Arethufe
Frigate was obliged to haul in clofe to the Town.
This Day Brigadier Laurence wasfii?htly wounded
by a piece of a Shell that burll: at lbme Diflance
from him.
10. The Volunteers for the Company of Miners
were fenton Shore from all the Ships to the Captain
of the Party, about 200 in Number, who were
incamped by themfelves.
As the Befiegers every Day and Night continued
to advance with their Works, the Garrifon kept
a brifk, conftant cannonading, and threw feverai
Shells. It is remarkable, that they difcharged great
Quantities of old Iron of feverai Kinds, (fuch as
Shovels * Tongs, and the like, befides a moft de-
ftructive Sort of fquare Iron-bars of about 5 or G
Inches long, and about an Inch and a half fquare,
leveral of them cafed in Plates of Tin,) which they
call Mitraille^ by way of Grape Shot— the Wounds
they give are very difficult, if at all, to be. cured,
from their being made with fuch angular, ragged
Weapons.
This Night our People obferved a great Fire in
the Woods in fight of Lvaijbourg, which they
rightly
of Louisbourg 27
rightly conjectured to be a Signal to the Garrifon
ot Monf. Boijhiberes Arrival, who, as we learned
by the Report of Deferters, was expected about this
time with a Party of Canadians and Indians, ibme
to reinforce the Garrifon, and the reft to harrafs the
Rear of our Camp, and to watch Opportunities of
cutting off all fmall Parties of our Men, who might
be accidentally detached to any diftant Parts. This
Chief is well known to the Colonies at and about
Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia, for his own faith-
lefs Inhumanity, and for the mifchievous Activity
and treacherous Cruelty of his lurking Parties.
Ti. Some of his Party feized a Soldier who wasy a
driving a Waggon to the left Wing of the Camp;
from whom they extorted all the Intelligence he
was able to give, by the Menaces of a fpeedy Exe-
cution if he did not, or reported any thing they
fliould difcover to be falfe.
12. However, by what Means is not very cer-
tain, he contrived to make his Efcape, and after
being fome time purfued undiscovered, returned to
the Camp, and reported that the Party faid they
were about 50 near the Place he was brought to,
and to the Number of 200 farther in the Wood —
and that they had with them a great many Head of
Cattle.—
13. Our working Parties continued very indefa-
tigable upon the Trenches; as did
14. The Befieged in doing all that a brifk Can-
nonading could do, to force them from the At-
tempt, or at leaft to leffon their Numbers, in order
to delay their Succefs. The Batteries of the Be-
fiegers were traced out laft Night.
15. In the Night the mifchievous Frigate U Are-
thuje taking the advantage of a dark Night and a
thick Fog, got out of the Harbour, but not un-
F perceived
3 8 The Reduction
perceived by the Light-houfe Party, who made
Signals with Rockets to Sir Charles Hardy's Squa-
dron-, Several of whom chafed her, but at a great
Diftance, till they loft Sight of her in a Fog impe-
netrable to human Eyes, and extended on this
Coaft for many a Score Leagues. Two or three of
the Dtferters from our Camp were fent to France in
this Frigate — another had his Head mot off while he
was very acYive on Duty in the Town.
1 6. About 7 o*Clock this Evening, Brigadier
Wolfe made himfelf Mafter of a Poft occupied by
she Enemy's Picquets within about 400 Yards of
the Weft Gate, where about 100 of their Volunteers
had fecured themfclves behind fome fmall Breaft-
works of Sand- Bags — He advanced towards this
Poft with only 8 or 10 Men, leaving Orders for a
fuftaining Party to follow him from the Green-bill.
Upon his approaching the Enemy, they fired fome
few Mufkefs at him ; when he difpatched an Officer
to the adjacent Redan, with Orders for an Officer
and 20 of the Light Infantry to crofs the Barrafoy
Bridge immediately, fupported by 20 Grenadiers.
They advanced with all Expedition one after ano-
ther, at about 2 Yards diftance from each other*,
and on the Bridge received three Fires from the
Enemy's Breaft-works, without any Lofs. On
the Light Infantry's advancing farther without firing
their Pieces, the Enemy's Party retired with muck
Precipitation towards the Weft-Gate, firing fome
random Shot in their Flight,, and were purfued,
without the Lofs of a Man, in the midft of a
warm Fire of grape and round Shot both from the
Town and Ships, and from the fmall Arms of the
Rampart and Covert-way. At this Poft the Briga-
dier made a good Lodgment. The Fire from the
Beneged was continued brifkly during the whole
Night
X)f LoUISBOTTRG. 39
Night after, with feveral Shells thrown at Intervals
into the new Poft we had gained j which was rein-
forced with 5 Companies of Grenadiers and 100
Highlanders under the Command of Lieutenant-
Col. HaU.
This Night the Left of the Lines of Approach
was opened by the very fame Grenadiers, and the
Remainder of their Company, with the Lofs only
of 4 or 5 Men, and 7 or 8 wounded.
The Honourable Capt. Edgcumbe with 6 or 7
Ships replaced Sir Charles Hardf% Squadron on the
Station off the Harbour's Mouth.
1 7. The Parallel was [extended from the Right <
to the Left with little Lofs, in the Face of a very v
hot Fire from the Befieged,
A Deferter from Boijhibere's Party came in, and
faid, they had hanged 3 or 4 Seamen whom they
had taken on the 5th belonging to the Tranfports.
This Evening Sir Charles Hardy, with fome of
his Squadron, returned to his Station — the Frigate
was lucky enough to make her Efcape —
1 8. There was a conftant briik Fire of Mufketry
from the Covert-way, made by the Befieged all laft
Night and this whole Day, upon our Parties on the
Lines, who fuffered very little from it. The Garri-
fon directed feveral of their Shells both in the Day
and Night towards our Laboratories and Maga-
zines in the Grand Camp— The Direction was given
by the Information of a Deferter from us.
More of the Tranfports Men were taken off by
the Vigilance of fome lurking Indians near the
Shore in Gabreufe Bay — One Warning was not
enough for them. —
19. The Lines from the right and left Wing
were joined by the Befiegers — and our Batteries
from the Left were opened and began to play with
F % Succefs
4© The Redu5iio?i
Succefs upon the Baftion Dauphine at the Well
Gate, notwithstanding the brilk and conftant Can-
nonading from the Garrifon •, from which our Peo-
ple differed much lefs than might have been ex-
pected.
20. The Operations of the former Day were fuc-
ceisfully continued — In the Evening a Body of about
400 Seamen were fent on Shore, and erected by the
next Morning a very ftrong Battery of 5 pieces of
Cannon to the Right, without the Lofs of a Man.
The Seamen were under the Direction of an Engi-
neer 9 and commanded by a Captain of one of our
Frigates, who were all to take their Turns at this Du-
ty, as the jenior Captains had done at that of land-
ing the Artiilery and Stores, with the Lieutenants
of the Fleet in Rotation upon both thefe Services.
2 1 . The Operations of this Day were much the
fame with thofe of the two former ones — About
2 in the Afternoon, by a Shell from the Light -houfe
Battery, as the moft credible Prifoners declare, Le
Cekbre of 64 Guns in the Harbour was fet on Fire,
and after her Allowance of Powder on board for
the Day blew up part of her Deck with a very loud
Explofion, fhe burned with great Violence. As
this Ship was burning, the Fire communicated it-
feif to V 1 Entreprennant of 74 Guns, and from her
fpread itfelf to Le Capricieux of 64 Guns— There
was no Explofion from the two latter Ships, as the
Men as been very bnfk in throwing their Powder
-over- board, before the Flames could fpread them-
. felves fo far. — This muft not be understood of the
Quantity of Powder thefe Ships arrived with, as
complete for Service — That they had taken out at
the Beginning of the Siege, and lodged on board a
Store Jhip not far from the Town, as a Precaution
againft the more dreadful Cgnfequence of an acci-
dental.
of LOUISBOURG. 41
dental Shell from any of our Batteries falling into
their Magazines: And every Night they carried on
board each of the Ships the Quantity they judged
would be Efficient for the Service of the following
Bay — This is what was above called their Allow-
ance of Powder jor the Day, As foon as the Fire
reached their Guns that were loaded, fome with
round, fome with grape Shot, they difcharged them-
felves indiferiminateiy on Friend and Foe, fome to-
wards the Town and the Battery of the Befiegers,
and others on their own Ships and Boats. Their
Men with much Difficulty efcaped on Shore in
their Boats, through a brifk Fire from our Batteries
added to the accidental Difcharges of their own
Ships Guns. The three Ships made a prodigious
Blaze for the whole Night, and after burning down
to the Water's Edge, quite loofed from their
Moorings, they were by the Tide driven on Shore
upon the Mud at the Barrafoy End of the Har-
bour, with all their Iron and Guns tumbled one
upon another in their Holds, which 47 will be faved
by our People.
Le Prudent of 74 Guns, and Le Bienfaifant of
64, feeing this cafual Burning of the greater part of
their Squadron, warped ofT as fall as poffible to-
wards the other End of the Harbour, to be out of
the Reach of the Flames from the other Ships;
Fortune referving their Fate fame few Days longer.
22. About Sun rife the Befiegers opened two July.
other Batteries on the Right with thirteen 24 pound-
ers, and another of 7 Mortars, to throw Shells
into the Covert-way and Ramparts, from whence
the Befieged kept Night and Day a very hot Fire
with their Mujketry, and they were not lefs active
with their Cannon and Mortars. Another Battery
from the Left, which was not 500 Yards off, played
brilkly
42 7be Redudlion
. brhldy, and with fo very vifible an Effect on the
Fortifications, that the Befiegers had the encourag-
ing Satisfaction to fee the Revetement, with a great
Quantity of Earth tumbling down after the firing
of moft of their Shot.
There were three other Batteries from the North-
fide of the Barrafoy Bridge, one of 4, one of 5,
and a third of 7 Pieces of Cannon* befides 2 large
Mortars, kept conftantly playing on the Weft Gate
and its Cavalier, where fome Guns were difmount-
ed ; and at Intervals they were directed to the two
remaining Ships in the Harbour, with exceeding;
good Effect every Way — The Officers of the Be-
sieged have fince more than once declared, that
they never faw any Artillery better ferved than at
this Siege— That there was hardly one of our Shot,
that did not perform fome Execution, and many
of them from their judicious Direction did them as
much Damage as was poflible for any fingle Shot
to do. A Battery was begun on the Lett for 4
twenty-four pounders.
Every Night fince the near Approach to the
Walls, there was a Party of our Light Infantry
kept without the Lines near the Bottom of the Gla-
cis, to prevent our working Parties on the Trenches
and Batteries from being furprized by any fudden
Sally of the Befieged.
The Batteries on the Right of the Lines played
upon the Citadel Baftion with fuch Effect, that a
Breach was very foon expected there. Several of
our Mortars were ferved with very great Succefs
— The Town was fet on Fire feveral times by Shells
thrown from the Right — fome of the very firft
lighted moft of the Citadel Buildings and the new
Barracks into a prodigious Blaze, — Our Men were
not a little rejoiced when they faw the Church St ee^
of Louisbourg. 43
pie and Spire knocked down, as they had heard,
that the Befieged conftantly kept an Officer up
there, to obferve the Motions and Advances of the
Befiegers from time to time,
This Night the Seamen were employed in erect-
ing more advantageous, more advanced Batteries %
which they did with great Spirit, and equal Sue-
cefs.
23. A brifk Cannonading was continued from July,
all our Trenches with good Execution upon feveral
Parts of the Fortification, befides that of the Co^
horns, and of the French Mortars for throwing of
Stones — and our Shells fet the Town on Fire in
feveral Places.
24. The Cannonading from our Trenches was
continued with great Spirit and little Lofs — and
our Shells fet the Town on Fire in feveral Places.
Another Battery was opened this Day to the
Right of our Lines, to flank the Citadel Baftion-~
We have fince learned, that feveral of the Guns
©n the Ramparts were about this time wounded y
and feveral difmounted — and that three of the
Mortars in the Garrifon were rendered ufelefs by a
Jingle Shot from one of our Batteries.
This Day the Fire from the Befieged flackened
confiderably while ours increaied with our
additional Works and vifible Succefs.
Some Deferters that came in to our Trenches this
Day reported, that the Inhabitants of the Town
were fo much harraffed and diftreffed by our Shoe
and Shells, that they on their Knees intreated the
Governor to capitulate — but, to no manner of Pur-
pofe. Whatever Strefs might be retted on this
Report, moft of our Men improved it to their
own Advantage, that of keeping up their brave
Spirits,, with the very probable Profpect of the
fpeedy
44 °j Louisbourg.
fpeedy Reduction of a Place, that had given them
fo much Fatigue, and promifed them fo much
Reputation. This Day the Fire of our fmall Arms
into the Embrazures of the Ramparts, drove the
Enemy from their Guns.
July, 25. The Befiegers were indefatigable in exerting
their Efforts from the Trenches againft the Fortifi-
cations, which had an exceeding good Effect. The
Citadel Baft ion , and many of their Embrazures were
very confiderably damaged — and a large Breach was
made in the Baftion Dauphine at the Weft Gate —
which had encouraged them to bring their Scaling
"Ladders into the Trenches, that they might be ready
for the very firft favourable Opportunity of an
Efcalade, if that Extremity mould not be prevented
by the fpeedy Surrender of the Garrifon upon the
formal Summons of the General.
About Noon, by the Admiral's Order, two Boats,
a Barge and Pinnace or Cutter from every Ship,
of the Fleet, except the Northumberland, an Invalid,
manned only with their proper Crews, and armed
with Mufquets and Bayonets, CutlalTes, Piftols,
and Pole- Axes, each Boat under the Direction of a
Lieutenant and Mate or Midjhipman, rendezvoufed
at the Admiral's Ship : From thence they were
detached by two's and three's at a time to join thofe
of Sir Charles Hardy's Squadron off the Mouth of
the Harbour. There they were in the Evening
ranged in two Divifions under the Command of
the two Senior Mafters and Commanders in the Fleet,
the Captains Laforey and Balfour.
In this Order they put off from Sir Charles's
Squadron about 12 o'Clock, and by the Advan-
tage of the foggy Darknefs of the Night, and the
inviolable Silence of their People, paddled into
the Harbour of Lcuisbourg, unperceived either by
the
of Louisbourg. 45
! the JJland Battery they were obliged to come ^4,25.
very near to, or by the two Men of War that
rode at Anchor at no great Diftance from them.
There was no great Probability of their being
perceived from any Part of the Garrifon, not only
on Account of their greater Diftance, but alfo
of the preconcerted brifk Diver/ton made upon
them from all our Batteries about that time. Be-
fides, the Beficged themfelves left no body an
Opportunity to hear any Noife : For, from hav-
| ing in the Day time obferved the numerous Scal-
ing-ladders that were brought into our Trenches,
they were under fome Apprehenfions of an Efca-
lade intended as this Night, and kept a conftant
Fire with their Mufketry from the Ramparts
during the whole time-, with the Defign, if pof-
fible, to deter the Befiegers from that Attempt,
by fhewing them how well they were upon their
Guard in all the Places it could probably be
made.
During this feeming Security and prudent Pre-
caution on both Sides, the bold Stratagem of the
Boats for furprizing the two remaining Ships in
the Enemy's Harbour, every Moment ripened
for the Execution. After pufhing in as far almoft
as the Grand Battery left the Ships ftiould be too
foon alarmed by their Oars, they took a Sweep
from thence towards the Part of the Harbour,
where the Gentlemen knew the Ships were, who
had before very well reconnoitred it — and prefent-
ly difcovered them. Each Divifion of the Boats
was no fooner within Sight and Hail of the noble
Object of their Attempt, Capt. Laforey's of Le
Prudent* and Capt. Balfour's of Le Bienfaifant,
than, while the Centinelson board having hailed
G them
^6 The Reduction
July, them in vain, began to fire on them, each of
the Commanders ordered his Boats to give way
along-fide their refpective Ships, and to board
them immediately with all the Expedition and
good Order they could obferve.
The Boats Crews no longer able to contain?
themfelves in Silence, after their Manner, gave
loud Cheers as they were pulling up along-fide , and
with the mod intrepid Activity, armed fome
with Mufkets, Bayonets and Cutlaffes, others
with Piftols, Cutlaffes and Pole-axes, followed
their brave headers and boarded the Ships in art
Inftant with great Spirit, on each Bow, Quarter
and Gang-way-— and after very little Refiftance
from the terrified Crews, foon found themfelves
in Poffefiion of two fine Ships of the Enemy, one
of 74, and one of 64 Guns, with the Lofs of
very few of the Seamen, and but one Mate.
The Befieged were now fufficiently alarmed on
all Sides by the Noife of the Seamen at boarding,
the Cheers leaving them no Room to doubt that
it was from Englijh Seamen, and the Direction of
the confufed Sound of Voices and Firing after-
wards foon leading them to fufpect the real Fact,
an Attempt upon their Ships. The heroic, fuc-
cefsful Adventurers were employed in fecuring
their Prifoners in the Ships Holds, and concert-
ing the mod effectual Methods for fecuring thefc
Prizes out of the Reach of the enraged Enemy i
when both the Ships and Boats received a moft
furious Fire of Cannon, Mortars and Mufkets
from all Parts that it couid be directed to them y
from the IJland Battery at no great Diftance y
from the Battery on Point Maurepas a little far-
ther off and from all the Guns of the Garrifon
that
1 .
of Louisbourg. 47
chat eould be brought to bear on that Part of thej^
Harbour.
After endeavouring in vain to tow off he Pru~
dent, they found me was on ground, with feveral
Feet Water in her Hold. There now remained
nothing in their Power to do, to prevent her be-
ing recovered by the Enemy, but to fet her on
Fire — which they did with all poffible Expedi-
tion, leaving along fide her a large Schooner, and
her own Boats , for her People to efcape in to the
Shore, which was at no great Diftance from her.
On board of this Ship they found a De/erter from
our Camp, who was killed in the little Buftle at
our People's taking Poffeffion of her, and by
that Means refcued from the ignominious Exe-
cution of military Juftice,
The Boats from Le Prudent now joined the
others about Le Bienfaifant, and helped to tow
her off triumphantly in the midft of a formida-
ble Fire from the mortified Enemy; which they
did with great Speed by the Aftiftance of a little
Breeze, and what ragged Sails, Yards and Rigg- -
ing fhe had left of any Service after the conftant
Fire fhe had fo long received from our Batteries.
When they had thus got her out of the Diftance
and Direction of the Enemy's Guns, they fecured
her till the next Day by an Hawfer in the N. E.
Harbour, and enjoyed on board her the firft
joyful Moment's Leifure of fecurely congratu-
lating each other on their Succefs and Safety in
this hazardous Enterprize.
The taking of thefe two Ships by our Fleet's
Boats on this memorable Occafion, as it muft be
a lafting, indelible Honour to the Vigilance and
A&ivity of thofe who projected, and to the
G 2 Bravery
48 The Reduction
July. Bravery and Conduct of thofe who executed, the
bold Defign will alfo be a new, and perhaps a
Jeajonable Conviction to the whole World, that,
however arduous, however apparently-impractica-
ble any purpofed naval Attempt may be, the
Englijh Seamen are not to be deterred from it by
any Profpect of Difficulty or Danger, but will
exert themfelves as far as Men can do, and at
leaft deferve Succefs, when led on to it by fuch
as are worthy to command them.
Whether it may be ufeful, is not fo certain as,
that it is jujl, to obferve in this Place, that at
the Time of this naval Ajjault, their was neither
Captain or Lieutenant on board either of thefe
Ships, but an Enfign only in each left with the
Command: That their Decks were ftrewed
about a Foot high with Tobacco Leaves, and large
Pieces of Junk, as a Precaution to leflbn the
violent Effects of our /mailer Shells that might
accidentally alight in them : And, that all their
Sides within, were nailed over with thick Nett-
ings, to prevent fome of the Mifchiefs from Splin-
ters occafioned by Shot through their Sides. They
had much greater Experience of the real Ufe of
the latter Expedient, than of the former, during
the Courfe of this Siege : For, you have feldom
feen Ships more mattered with Shot-holes, efpe-
cially on one fide, with their Mafts ftanding, than
thefe two were, at the time they fell into our
Poffeffion Shells indeed none of the Ships
received many of; and what happened to hie
them, were none of the largeft Sort, and but by
Accident could have done them the Mifchiefs
they fuffered.
26. Capt,
of Louisbourg. 49
26. Capt. Laforey's intrepid Conduct in the July,.
heroic Action of latt Night was very juftly re-
warded with Poji in UEcbo Frigate of 32 Guns,
taken from the Enemy on the 19th of June laft,
as he was unfortunately obliged to let his own
fine Capture Le Prudent on Fire, otherwife it is
not doubted, that he would have been diftin-
guifhed with the Command of that Ship as
Capt. Balfour's was with that of Le Bienfaifant^
which was immediately repaired with all Dili-
gence, to be fent to England.
About low Water this Day Le Bienfaifant was
on ground, at the Place where fhe was fecured in
the dark of the Morning, upon afoft Mud: And,
ibon after fhe began to heel> her Main, Mizen and
Fore-topmafts had been fo much wounded by
the Shot from our Batteries, that they went over
her Side, leaving her the horrid Appearance of a
wrecked, as well as a conquered, Ship. Indeed,
when our Ships came into the Harbour, there
was hardly any Part of ir, which had not the
Appearance of Diftrefs and Defolation, and pre-
fented to our View frequent Pieces of Wrecks
and Remnants of Deftruction — Five or fix Ships
funk in one place with their Maft-Heads peeping
out of the Water— the ftranded Hull of Le Pru-
dent on the muddy Shoal of the other fide, burned
down to the Water's Edge, with a great deal of
her Iron and Guns daring us in the Face — Buoys
of flipped Anchors bobbing very thick upon the
Surface of the Water in the Channel towards the
Town a Number of fmall Craft and Boats
towards that Shore, fome intirely under Water,
others with part of their Mails Handing out of
it \ befides the ftranded Hulls, Irons and Guns
of
50 The Reduction
Ju/j.of the three Ships burned on the 21 ft, upon the
Mud towards the Barrafoy and in the N. E.
Harbour little elfe to be feen but Mails, Yards
and Rigging floating up and down, and Pieces of
burned Mafts, Bowfprits &c. driven to the Wa-
ters Edge, and fome Parts of the Shore edged
with the T obaccs Leaves out of fome of the Ships
that had been deftroyed the whole a difmal
Scene of total Deftruction !
This Day as the Fire of the Bejiegers was ra-
ther brijker than ufual, that from the Garrifon
was but v ery faint and that dijcontinued about
10 o'Clock in the Morning 5 when an Officer
with a Flag of Truce was lent out to General
Amherft, to defire Terms of Capitulation.
It was Mr. Bofcawen's conftant Method from
the very fir ft Forenoon of landing the Troops
in the Ifland of Cape Bret on , to go on Shore
himfelf fome part of the Day, and fometimes
twice every Day, if the Bufinefs of the Fleet,
and the violent Surff on the Shore' would permit
him, into the Grand Camp : And, as on thefe
Accounts his going himfelf was fometimes uncer-
tain, he had at lead one of his Officers every Day
on Shore continually attending on General Am-
herft, fometimes to carry Difpatches to him, and
always to bring Intelligence from him of the whole
Proceedings and Operations of the Siege.
The Admiral was this Day arrived at the Head-
quarters, but a few Minutes before the Officer
came from the Garrifon to the General, and con-
certed with him the Nature of the formal Sum-
mons, to be fent into the Governor of Louisbourg,
to furrender the Garrifon. The Admiral had
brought along with him fomewhat of this Kind
ready
Of LoUISfcOtJRG.C^ ^ 51
ready drawn up in Englifh in the Form of a Let-j
ter-, the Contents of which were communicated
to the French Officer. The only "Term of Capi-
tulation^ which was delivered to him, was con-
ceived in very few Words, to this Effect, that
the Garrifon mud expect no other Terms, but to
furrender at Difcretion ? There were two Hours
time allowed the Governor for Deliberation. —
About the Expiration of the Time limited,
there came another Officer from the Governor ,
with Remonftrances againft the Hardfhip and
Severity of this, importuning fome other more
favourable Conditions. After fome little Confu-
tation between the Admiral and General^ they
concluded upon this Condefcenfion, that the Ex-
prefTion at Difcretion, mould be foftened into*
Prifoners of War — And, their generous Huma-
nity added, c That the Women and Children,
and fuch of the Inhabitants of Louijbourg, as
had not borne Arms, mould be fent into France^
in the Ships of his Britannic Majefty.'* The Officer
was affured, that no other Conditions whatever
would be granted to the Garrifon, who mould be
indulged an Hour longer for deliberating on thefe,
bur muft expect no more Time to be given
them.
Before the Expiration of this, a Lieutenant-
Colonel was fent out to the General Officer in our
Tranches, to propofe that the Officers of the
Garrifon, upon furrendering themfelves Prifoners
of War^ might be permitted to go to France
inftead of England upon their Parole given of
not ferving for a Time to be fpecified by the
General. — On finding this could not be obtained,
he defired the Favour of one Hour more for far-
ther
52 7he Reduction
Deliberation. — The Anfwer he received
from Brigadier Gen. Whitmore, was to this Pur-
pofe, ' Tnat He was not at Liberty to fufrer any-
more Me Mages to be carried to the General and
Commander in Chief but, that he would take it
upon himfelf, to allow the Garrifon one quarter
of an Hour more, which they muft^/ exceed on
any Pretence-, as he would certainty begin to
renew his Fire upon them, if he heard no more
from ihz Governor, when that Time was expired.*
When it was very near up, a Lieutenant -Colonel
came running out of the Garrifon, making Signs
at a Diftance, and bawling out as loud as he
could, We accept — We accept- — He was followed
by two others ; and they were ail conducted to
General Amherft 9 s Head-Quarters.
The Befiegers had this Morning completed
fome other fbrong Batteries, which the Surrender
of the Garrifon had timely prevented them from
opening. There was already a very confiderable
Breach made, in the Wall at the Weft Gate ; and
the Works were fo very much battered and da-
maged in feveral other Parts, that the Befiegers
had meditated a Storm and Efcalade as this Nighr,
or the following at farther!: — The Fleet was to
have attacked the Garrifon from the fide of the
Harbour ; while the Army afTaulted it from the
Camp fide. The Befie'ged had already experi-
enced the inflexible Bravery of both in two very
aftonifhing, fuccefsful Enterprizes ; and no one
can wonder, if they were now too much terrified
to hazard the Succefs of a third to their united,
exaiperated Efforts ; the dreadful Confequence of
which with too much Probability to be appre-
hended, would be the Extirpation of the whole
Garrifon,
of Louisbourg. 53
Garrifon, and all the Inhabitants of the Town — ;
Wifely to prevent this, they furrendered on the
following
Articles of Capitulation
Between their Excellencies Admiral Bofcawen
and Major General Am her ft, and his Excel-
lency the Chevalier de Drucour Governor of
the IJland of C&pe Breton, of Louilhourg and
of the Ijland of St. John, and their Appur-
tenances.
I. FT\ H A T the Garrifon of Louijhourg mall be
JL Prifoners of tVar, and fhall be carried to
England in the Ships of his Britannic Majefty.
II. All the Artillery, Ammunition, Provifions,
as well as the Arms of every Kind whatfoever,
which are at prelent in the Town of Louijbourg y
the Iflands of Cape Bret on y and St. John's, and
their Appurtenances, fhall be delivered, without
the lead Damage, to fuch Commiffaries as mail be
appointed to receive them, for the Ufe of his Bri-
tannic Majefty.
III. The Governor (ball give his Orders, that
the Troops which are in the lfland of St. John and
its Appurtenances, mail go on board fuch Ship of
War as the Admiral fhall fend to receive them.
IV. The Gate called Porte Dauphine mall be
given up to the Troops of his Britannic Majefty
to-morrow at eight o'Clock in the Morning,
and the Garrifon, including all thofe that carried
Arms, drawn up at Noon on the Efplanade, where
they (hall Jay down their Arms, Colours, Imple-
ments and Ornaments of War. And, the Garrifon
H > fhall
54 TZtf ReduSlion
mall go on board, in order to be carried to Eng-
land in a convenient Time.
V. The fame Care fliali be taken of the Sick
and Wounded that are in the Hofpitals, as of thofe
belonging to his Britannic Majefty.
VI. The Merchants and their Clerks that have
not carried Arms, mail be fent to France^ in fuch
Manner as the Admiral (hall think proper.
(Signed)
Camp before Louifbourg. Edward Bofcawen.
26th July 1758. Jeffery Amherft.
The Counter part of thefe Articles was tranflated
into the French Language on the Fart of the Gover-
nor, and
Dated at Louifbourg Signed
the 26th of July, 1758. Le Chevalier de Drucour.
After the Capitulation was figned, the General
detained a Lieutenant -Colonel of the Garrifon as an
Hoftage for the Articles being fulfilled on the Part
of the Governor, until 8 o'Clock in the Morning
of the
1# 27. When Major Farquhar with three Compa-
nies of Grenadiers took Pofleffion of Forte Dan-
fhine. And, at Noon Brigadier- General Whitmore
received in Form the Surrender of the Garrifon on
the Efplanade, directed their Arms and Colours to
be carried out of the Town, polled the necefTary
Guards and Centinels over the Stores, Magazines,
&c. in, the Town, and afterwards continued in the
Garrifon, and acted as Governor of Louijbourg*
It would be a great Omiffion not to acquaint you
that all the Officers and Men on this Expedition
received from their General a public Teftimony of
his Approbation of their gallant Behaviour^ which
of Louisbourg, 55
he affured them Ihould be faithfully reported to
their Royal Matter.
It may be fatisfactory to you, to receive the
Return of the Killed and IVounded at the landing
of the Troops on 8 th June.
Of the Army,
Killed
c
ni
a,
is
J
Subalterns
Serjeants
| Corporal |
Private
Wounded
[Subalterns
| Serjeants
| Corporal
Oh
| Miffing
Total
3
4
i
4*
Total
5
2
i
0/ /& Navy.
Killed
Seamen
Died
of
wounds
Wounded
Lieute-
nants.
Mates
or
Midfli.
Sea-
men*
Total
Total
Of the Transports.
[ Killed
Mates
Men
Wounded
Mates
Men
I Total
Total
N, B. Boats of the Men of War and Tranfports
fwampe4 and ftove, about 130.
What Forms you fee not filled up, are left for you
to fupply, when there is fuller Intelligence, Thofe
you lee already filled up, you may depend on, as
far as can be done on the Accuracy of T ranfcribers*
A
5*
The Reduction
A Return of the Killed and Wounded of the Fleets
cn the 2$th of July, in taking the Ships in the
Harbour.
Killed
Mates
or
Midfli.
Men
Wounded
Mates
or
Midfh.
Men
Total
i 6
Total
9
A Return of the Killed and Wounded of the Troops
between the Day of Landings and the Surrender
of Louifbourg,
The
Commif.
Officers.
Non-co.
Officers
and
The
Commif.
Officers
Non-co.
Officers
and
Killed
Captains
Lieutents
Enfigns
4-1
a
O
<u
"E?
a>
Corporal
Drums
[Private
wound-
ed.
Captains
Lieutents
Enfigns
Serjeants
Corporals
Drums
Private
Total
2
3
7
146
Total
4
10
3
4
3
2
315
Of the Artillery.
j Silled
Gunner
Macro/Fes J | Wounded
Corporal
Gunn.
Matrof.
J Total
1
3 II Total
1
5
This Return was tranfcribed by myfelf from an au-
thentic Copy at large, as was alfo
The
of Louisbourg. 57
The State of the Garrifon of Louifbourg on the
Bay it war far rendered.
Names of the Regiments, and Num-
bers of the Garrifon.
Offi-
cers,
Soldi-
Sick
Total
ers fit
for
Duty.
arid
woun-
ded.
of each
Regi-
ment.
24 Companies of Marines of the )
ufual Garrifon, and 2 Companies s
of the Artillery -— 3
Second Battal. of Volont aires Etr angers
D° Cambife
J)° Artois
D° Bcurgogne
76
38
38
3 2
3
746
402
466
407
353
Ws
86
104
27
3 !
IOI7
526
608
466
4H
3°3*
2606
Total of the Garrifon
Sea Officers and Seamen
214
2 374
1 1 24
443
1347
Total Prifoners of War ( 349
349*
1790
5637
Authentic Accounts make the Number of their Killed, 2400 at
the leaft.
The Artillery, Ammunition and warlike Stores found
in the Garrifon and its Batteries.
|Muflcets with Accou-
trements
Barrels of Powder
Mufket Cartridges
Mufket Balls in Tons
7600
600
8000
*3
CANNON.
French 36 Pounders,
N°.
Iron 38
Cafe Shot.
For 24 pounders -
[Double headed Shot
■ For 24 Pounders
1 2 -
24 - - -
97"
18 - - -
33
12-
?9
8 - - -
10
6 - - -
28
4 - ' -
6
Total N'.
231
SHOT.
For
36 Pounders
1607
24 - - -
1658
12 - -
4006
6 - - -
2^36
GRAPE-SHO I .
For
36 Pounders
139
24 - - -
\H
12 - - -
33°
f3 - - -
136
N°.
53
345
MORTAR 6 with Beds,
Brafs Inches 1 z\ Diaim.
9 - - -
61 - - -
Inches 12- Diameter
3
Iron
6
4
1
1 otal N°.
18
SHELLS.
inches 13 Diameter
805
10 -
38
8 - - •
■ 158
6 - - -
, 27
Total N°.
1028
COLOURS
58 The Reduction
An Account of the Ships in the Harbour of Louifc
bourg, when the Jj roofs landed.
Names
Guns
What became of them.
Le Prudent
L' Entreprennant
Le Celebre
Le Capricieux
Le Bienfaifant
T 1 A It
L Apollon
L' Echo
*U Arethufe
La Fidelle
74
74
64
64
64
44
3 2
36
26
Taken by Boats 25th July, and after-
wards burned.
Burned by a Shell 21ft July.
The fame Fate
The fame Fate.
Taken by Boats 25th Ju/j, and com-
miflioned.
bunk in the Harbour.
Taken by Sir Charles Hardy sSquadron
1 8th and commiflioned.
Made her Efcape in a Fog 15 th July,
Sunk in the Harbour.
Le Chevre
22
Sunk in the Harbour.
Le Biche
16
Sunk in the Harbour.
N. B. beiides
La Dian
3 2
Taken by Sir Charles Hardy s Squa-
dron 25 th April, and fold for the
Benefit of the Captori.
As you expect me to give you fome Account of
the Place, as well as of the Siege ; the following is.
the beft in my Power to fend you in this Hurry.
The Town of Louifbourg
LI E S on the S. W. fide of its Harbour, and
confifts of feveral narrow, paltry, (linking
Lanes they call Streets. There is hardly a tole-
rable Houfe in it, befides thofe of the Governor and
Intendant, that are built of Stone and Brick with-
out any Elegance. The beft of all its Build-
ings are, the Hofpital, Nunnery, and the Maga-
zines.— Its fine Barracks built by the Englijh during
the laft War, were all burned down by the Shells
thrown into t hem during the Siege. Few of the
other Houfes, which were much damaged by the
Shot of the Befiegers, are more than a better Sort
of boarded Cottages a Story high 5 in which one
could not help obferving many Marks of the fhewy
Beggary
of Louisbourg. 59
Beggary of their late Inhabitants -to fay nothing
of the Dirt and Slovenlinefs of that nafiy fine People
whom the Englijh ape with fo much Fondnefs, and
fo little Tafte.
The Fortifications
Are as regular as the Situation would admit.
Befides a good Rampart, with irregular Baftions
and a Cavalier on one of them, it has a good dry
Ditch, except towards the Baftion Dauphine, where
there is Water. The Revetement of the Walls is.
not capable of (landing any long Battering, for
Want of a good Cement which is not to be made
with Sea-fand, and a fcanty Allowance of Lime,
The Covert-way and its Traverfes are pretty good,
and the Glacis excellent: Before two of the Cur-
tains there is a Ravelin with a Bridge to the Sally-
forts. But, after all, the Thicknefs of its Walls,
and the impaffable Morajjes from the Foot of its
Glacis to a confiderable diftance, are what confti-
tute the Strength of the Place more than the Regu-
larity of its Works, or all the Pieces of Cannon
that can be mounted on its Ramparts.
The Siege
Of this Place had nothing more remarkable in it,
than the following Circumftances — The Englijh
Forces landed in a Place, where it was but barely
pojfible, tho' hardly credible without fuch a fuccefsful
Conviction, for an Handful of Men, at the Time
defencelefs and expofed, to fucceed in the Face of
Numbers, fo advantageoufly fituated, and fo im-
pregnably fortified. -The ft r ict Union, conftant
Harmony, and mutual good Inclination that fub-
fifted between the Fleet and Army in this Expedi-
tion, were inforced both by the Orders and Exam-
ples of the Commanders in Chief, and punctually
obferved by all their fubordinate Officers. As this
good Underftanding contributed fo much to their
mutual
6o 7 'he Redu6iion
mutual Happinefs, as well as to the Succefs of their
united Efforts, in this joint Enterprize, it will
always be remembered to their Honour, as almoft
the only Inftance of fuch Unanimity for a long Time
between a Fleet and an Army fent to act in Con-
junction, upon Service of whatever Importance to*
the Public. The well projected Defign no lefs
happily executed of furprizing and Seizing in their
very ftrong Harbour two capital Ships of the French,
by the Secrecy, Suddennefs and Vigour of the
Coup de Main of the Boats of the Englijh Fleet ;
which will defervedly make a memorable Article
in the Annals of Europe for the Year 1758.
And, the very inconfiderabie Number of Men the
Siege of Louijbourg coir the Englijh ; which was
much fhort of what might reafonably have been
expected in the fingle Attempt of Landing, where
the French had fuch fortified Lines, manned with
fuch powerful Numbers.
The Conquefl of Louifbourg
Is faid to be peculiarly remarkable for this one
Observation- — That the Humanity and Generofity
of our Commanders in Chief towards its Garrifon
and Inhabitant*^ had more the Appearance of trans-
planting an Englijh Colony, than the Behaviour of
difpoflefling a ftench Settlement : And you would
have believed the Indulgences granted to all of them,
to have been Shewn toward Friends, had you not
been allured they v/ere conferred upon Prifoners.
Wherever Succefs and Victory may hereafter de-
cide in Favour of any French Commanders it is to
be hoped, they will always remember the generous
Treatment all their People received from the Con-
querors of Lduijhourg.- It is not to be doubted,
that the who:? World will admire the Superior
Greatnefs of the Englijh Commanders, in fo loon
forgetting the barbarous Ufage of both their Officers
and Men by the Ravagers of Fort Willi 'am- Henry.
FINIS.
/
r
